Jun
29
It’s been a 90-100 degrees over the last few weeks, so we’ve been moving toward cool summer dinners, and bringing out some old favorite salads and adding some new.
This one is my new favorite!
Strawberry Salad w/ Strawberry Vinaigrette
For the Salad:
- Baby Spring Greens Mix (I love these dark and slightly bitter greens mixed with the sweet strawberries)
- Sliced Strawberries
- Almond Slivers
- Goat Cheese (use a fork to crumble it up before you add it)
For the Dressing (adapted from Simple Bites):
- 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 3/4 cup sliced strawberries
It’s basically the same as the Simple Bites dressing except that I use Dijon instead of dried mustard, and I leave out the Poppy Seeds because I couldn’t find any at Trader Joe’s, and I use a little more vinegar.
Instead of pulsing everything and then pouring in the oil while it mixes, I just throw everything in the blender and blend. I’m sure their way is better, but mine turns out fine and is faster!
Because I like a more filling meal than a salad, we’ve been having bruschetta on the side. It is so lovely and fresh tasting! It goes perfect with the salad.
Simple Bruschetta
- French Bread
- Garlic
- Tomatoes (any kind you like, we like Cherry for their sweetness)
- Olive Oil
- Fresh Basil Leaves
- Slice up a French Bread baquette
- Toast it in the broiler or toaster over
- Rub each slice with a clove of fresh garlic
- Drizzle it with your most delicious Olive Oil
- Top with finely diced tomatoes
- Top that with some Basil Chiffonade (Here’s an video on how to Chiffonade, in case you don’t know)
This is my very favorite new summer meal! It’s so light and fresh and summery, and the bright pink dressing with the red berries is so lovely! I can’t get enough!
Let me know if you try it!
Jun
28
Last week I was invited to join some other fabulous bloggers, inlcuding Erin from CreativitE and my good friends Susan of susan fujiki (dot) com (formerly the Tatamimat) and Jackie of P.S. Jackie, to Rituals Salon here in Valencia. We were celebrating (with yummy cocktails and appetizers) the launch of Nick Arrojo’s (from tv’s What Not to Wear) new hair care product line. Rituals is the first salon in So Cal to carry it.
We had the opportunity to sit and talk with Nick about his life, career, and the products. He had an inspiring story of working his way up from a poor childhood to building a successful career and business.
taken with my iphone – sorry about the poor image quality
We each got to take home a bag of sample goodies. And I have to tell you I love the shampoo and conditioner. They smell amazing, like being in a spa, and seem to do the job (I’m no hair product expert), and they have a great price point for salon products ($12-19). And isn’t the packaging pretty?!
Thanks to Rituals and Nick for the invite!
Jun
27
We’re, once again, having some sleeping issues in the Keegan Gross house. Thankfully, once she’s in bed she sleeps through the night. But at bedtime, Eleanor just doesn’t want to go to sleep. We put her in bed between 8 and 8:30pm and then proceed to walk her back to bed until she stays there, which can be from 30 minutes to 2 hours. This happens most nights. Ever 15 minutes or so it’s something new, I need some milk, I have an itch, I’m hungry, I want Mama to sing me a song. And we do as the books say, we just walk her back to bed without discussion, over and over and over again.
Before we moved apartments we had turned her door handle around so that we could lock it from the outside to avoid the hours of walking her back to bed. We didn’t do it ever night, just after at lease 45 minutes of walking her back to bed and after warning her of the consequence of getting up again. This of course made her angry, and led to controversy among my family, who think it’s abusive to lock her in her room.
Some of you may feel the same way, but I’ve read many an article from parenting experts and doctors all which suggest locking the door or putting up a gate. I don’t see the difference between the two except with a gate she will have light coming into her room and can hear the tv on or Josh and I talking which doesn’t seem conducive to sleep. I honestly don’t see the problem with making her stay in her room until she falls asleep. I understand that people have concerns about the door being locked during the night because she couldn’t get to us if she had a nightmare or was feeling sick. But we check on her and unlock the door before we go to bed. I really don’t see the big deal, it’s her bedroom filled with books and toys, not a tiny cage lined with newspaper.
From reading the parenting forums and asking around, the bedtime problem seems extremely common at her age and no one seems to have a good solution.
What do you think? Is it wrong to lock her door at night? Got any secrets to get a very determined three year old to stay in bed? Do you think it’s just a three year old thing and she’ll grow out of it? I think that’s the way I’m leaning.
